K-State Janitor Arrested For Campus Thefts

By Lindsey Rogers&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Wed 10:59 AM, Oct 03, 2012&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Thu 12:38 PM, Oct 04, 2012

MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) -- For months, pricey electronics including flat screen televisions and laptops have been turning up missing from offices in and around Throckmorton Hall, K-State’s Plant Sciences Building.

An investigation by the Kansas State University Police Department led officers to arrest a janitor for the thefts. Andre Murphy, 33, was taken into custody on campus Tuesday, October 2, 2012.

K-State police and Riley County police officers also searched Murphy’s home on Yuma Street in Manhattan Tuesday as well as a home on Ratone Street where officials say some of the stolen goods were being stored.

"The search was part of an ongoing investigation into burglaries of various campus offices," a press release from the university said Wednesday.

"We executed some search warrants off campus and discovered a large amount of stolen property from the university. In that, the arrest was made of Andre Murphy who is an employee here at the university. The investigation revealed that he had been involved in the theft of those items," Captain Don Stubbings with the K-State Police Department told WIBW.

Besides thousands of dollars worth of stolen property, Stubbings says officers also found drugs, cash and a gun during their search warrants. Murphy was arrested on two counts of felony theft as well as a misdemeanor theft count and several drug charges, including:

*Possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school* Possession of marijuana* Possession of drug paraphernalia* No drug tax stamp* Unlawful acquisition of drug proceeds* Criminal possession of a firearm

Meanwhile, police are trying to piece together the recovered evidence.

"Right now, we're putting everything together.There’s some property there that we’re trying to find the rightful owners on and that does take some time with trying to identify what belongs to who and we’re in the process of doing that now," Stubbings said.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected, according to police.

The probe into the office break-ins was a collaborative effort by the patrol and investigation divisions at the Kansas State University Police Department.

“I am very proud of our officers' effort and dedication to investigating these ongoing crimes,” said Ronnie Grice, Kansas State University police chief.

On Wednesday, Murphy remained confined at the Riley County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

University police could not provide a picture of Murphy. The Riley County Police Department does not release booking photos of suspects from the Riley County Jail.

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